Meat rack for refrigerator cars



May 3, 1932.

A. E. DENTLER 1,856,472

MEAT RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed June 1, 1931 Patented May 3, 1932QNHED FTATES ARNOLD E. DENTLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T W. H.MINER, INQ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELA'WABE MEAT RACKFOE REFBIGERATOR CARS Application filed June 1,

his invention relates to improvements in meat racks for refrigeratorcars.

In the transportation of meat by refrigerator cars, damage is frequentlycaused in transit by the same being shaken and torn from the supportinghooks of the racks through excessive violent vibrations imparted to thecar body by the action of the truck springs.

The main object of my invention is to over- 16 come this difficulty byproviding resilient sup porting means in connection with the meat racksof refrigerator cars to cushion and absorb the damaging shocks, therebyprotecting I the load suspended from the racks from damage.

A more specific object of the invention is to providea shock absorbingsupporting means for suspending the meat racks within the car.

Another object of theinvention is to pro- 29 vide yielding shockabsorbing means for suspending the meat racks of refrigerator carswherein the yielding action of the suspending means is dampened byfriction mechanism.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from thedescription and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is atransverse, vertical sectional view through the upper portion of arefrigerator car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith.Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View, partly broken away,corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figure 1'. Figure 3 is avertical sectional View of one of a plurality of shock absorbingsupports for suspending the meat rack. Figure 1 is a horizontalsectional view on the line 4-t of Figure 3. Figure 5 is averticalsectional view of the upper portion of one of a plurality ofshock absorbing supports employed to suspend the ends of the meat rack.Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 8, but illustrates a differentembodiment of the supporting device. And Figure 7 is a verticalsectional view through one of a plurality of shock absorbers forsupporting the ends of the rack from the car wall, involvingsubstantiallythe same shock absorbing means as illustrated in Figure 6.

1931. Serial No. 541,398.

In said drawings, referring first to the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 5 inclusive, 10 indicates the side wall of a refrigeratorcar, said wall comprising'an inner sheathing 11, an outer sheathing 12,and interposed insulation material 13. The car roof is indicated by 14-and is supported by the usual longitudinally extending beams 15.Insulation 16 is provided on the inner side of the roof and covered andprotected by the inner sheathing 1?. Transverse beams 18 extend fromside to side of the car beneath the roof and are spaced therefrom, asshown in Figure 1. The opposite ends of these beams are fixed in theside walls of the car. The beams 18 form supporting means from which themeat rack is suspended. The usual carlines 118 are provided forsupporting the roof,

and the beams 18 are preferably disposed at opposite sides of the same.The ceiling 19 is secured to the bottom of the carlines 118 and beams18, as shown in Figure 1.

in carrying out my invention as disclosed in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, Iemploy a meat rack composed of a plurality of longitudinally extendingbars 2020 and transverse connecting rods 2121. As most clearly shown inFigure 1, the bars 2020 are arranged in spaced pairs and are of greaterthickness in height than the rods 2121. As shown, the rods 2121 extendtransversely through the bars 20-20, the latter being provided withsuitable openings to accommodate the rods. In the present instance, therods 20 are hollow, as shown in Figure 5, that is, they are preferablytubular members. The connected rods and bars form a grid structure whichserves to suspend the usual hooks on which the meat is hung, one ofthese hooks being shown in Figure 1 and indicated by 22. The transversebars 2121 of the meat rackare supported at opposite ends on shockabsorbers A A which are fixed to the side walls of. the car. Between theends, each rod 21 is further suspended by hooklike members 2323 whichare supported by shock absorbers BB mounted on top of the beams 18. Asshown in Figure 1, three such shock absorbing supporting members B areprovic ed for each rod 21 l etween the ends there- A of, the same beingspaced apart as shown and having the hook members 23 thereofrespectively disposed between adjacent pairs of the longitudinal bars2020.

Each shock absorbing supporting member B comprises a base casting 24which has spaced bottom flanges 25-25 embracing the corresponding beam18. A casing 26 is mounted on top of the base member 24 and has thelower portion'thereof enlarged as indicated at 27 thereby providing anannular limiting shoulder 28. The bottom end of the casing 26 isprovided with flanges 2929 at opposite sides thereof by which the sameis secured to the base member 24, rivets being employed for thispurpose, which extend v movement of the friction shell.

through the flanges 29 29 and laterally outstanding sections at oppositesides of the base member. .A friction shell 30 is telescoped within thecasing 26, the shellbeing open at opposite ends and havlng-inter orfriction surfaces 31'31 at theopen upper end. At

converged inwardly. Apair of friction shoes.3333 cooperate with thefriction surfaces of the shell and an outer wedge block 34 has wedgingengagement with the shoes. A

spring member 35 is disposed within the friction shell 30 and casing26,having the bottom end bearingon the base member 24 and the upper endengaging a spring follower disc 36 which in turn engages the inner endsof the friction shoes. As will be evident, the spring 35 opposes inwardmovement of the friction shell with respect to the casing 26 and alsoopposes movement of the friction shoes 3333 inwardly of the shell 30;Each supporting hook member 23 has an elongated rodlike shank portionwhich extends through openings provided in the ceiling 19 of the car,the corresponding beam 18, the base member 24, the follower disc 36, andthe wedge block 34. The hook member 23 is anchored to the Wedge block bymeans of a securing nut 37 threaded on the upper end of the shank of thehook. A follower plate 38 is preferably interposed between the outer endof the wedge block 34 and the nut 37. As will be evident, each shockabsorbing means B yieldingly opposes downward movement of thecorresponding supporting hook 23 by means of the combined spring andfrictional action of said device. In absorbing a shock due to downwardpullon the hook 23, the

same will initially be resisted by the spring 35 only. After apredetermined compression of the spring 35, the lower end of thefriction shell 30 will engage the base member 63 24, thereby arrestingdownward movement of the shell and compelling the friction shoes to moveinwardly on the friction surfaces of the shell. As willbe evident, thefriction means provides a dampening action during this part of theoperation of the shock absorber and in addition opposes greaterresistance to downward movement of the 'member 23. The spring 35 acts toreturn all the parts to the normal position, upward movement of theshell 30 being limited by the shouldered engagement thereof with thecasing 26.

Each shock absorbing supporting member A com'prisesa base member 39having an upstanding securing-flange 40 which is fixed to the side wallof the car by means of bolts extending therethrough. The base castinghas a casing 41 mounted thereon in all respect similar to the casing 26hereinbefore described in connection with Figure 3. A friction shell 42,similar to the shell 30, is telescoped within-the casing and containsfriction shoes 4343, a spring resistance 44, and a wedge member 45,similar to the corresponding parts of Figure 3. The wedge member isprovided with a pocket 46 at the top thereof in which the outer end ofthe corresponding rod 21 is seated. A retanier bolt 147 is employed,which is anchoredto the wedge block and the supporting bracket 39. Theoperation of this shock absorbing device is in all respectssimilarto thedevice shown in Figure 3, downward movement of the rack forcing thewedge inwardly, first compressing the spring only and then, aftermovement of the friction shell has been arrested, forcing the frictionshoes to slide inwardly of the shell. As will be understood, supportingshock absorbing devices AA are provided at opposite ends of each rod 21,the same being fixed to the side walls of the car. The entire rack isthus supported at opposite ends by a plurality of shock absorbingdevices A, and is .further suspended from the beams 18 by a plurality ofshock absorbing devices B-B, three such devices being employed inconnection witheach rod 21. V

A As illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, spring shock absorbing devices maybe substituted for the friction devices A and B. A plurality of suchspring shock absorbers CC, shown indetail in Figure 6, are employed inplace of the shock absorbing devices. B 'B, and a plurality ofshockabsorbing devices D, as shown in Figure 7, are employed in place ofthe devices AA. Each shock ab.- sorbing device .0 comprises a casing 47which is closed at the bottom end and is supported on'the correspondingbeam 18. The casing 47 is provided with spaced depending flanges 4848 atthe bottom end thereof which. embrace opposite sides of the beam 18,securing means being employed extending through these flanges and intothe beam. The shank of a hook member 23, corresponding to the hookmember hereinbefore described in connection with Figures 1 to5inclusive, has the shank thereof extending through openings in theceiling 19, the beam 18, and the bottom wall of the casing 47. A spring419 is dis posed within the casing and is supported on the bottom wallof the same. A spring follower 50 cooperates with the upper end of thespring, and the shank of the hook 28 extends therethrough. The hookmember 23 is anchored to the follower50 by means of a nut 51 at theupper end ofthe shank thereof. Both the spring follower member 50 andthe bottom wall of the casing e7 are provided with inwardly extendingbosses which engage within the spring L9 to center the same, andrestrict downward movement of the follower'50 by engagement with eachother, thereby limiting'compression of the spring.

The shock absorbing device D comprises a casing having a fiat rear wall52 which has projecting flanges at opposite sides for fixing the same tothe wall 11 of the car. Any well-known securing means may be employedfor mounting the casing on the wall 11, bolts being herein shown whichextend through the flanges of the rear wall. The casing contains aspring 53 which is supported on the bottom wall thereof. A springfollower 54 is telescoped within'the upper end of the ea ing and bearson the spring The spring follower has a depending guide rod 55 formedintegral therewith, the rod extending through thebottom wall of thecasing and having a nut 56 secured to the lower end thereof for limitingupward movement of the follower 54. The follower is provided with anopening 57 which receives the corresponding end of the cooperating rod21 of the rack. The

front and rear walls of the casing 52 are vertically slotted, asindicated at 58 to permit the necessary reciprocating movement of therod 21.

As will be evident, when the rack is subjected to shocks or 'ibrations,the same is yieldingly supported by'the springs of the shock absorbers Cand D, the springs of the shock absorbers D yieldingly opposing downwardmovement of the outer ends of the rods 21 of the rack, and the springsof the shock. absorbers C opposing downward movement of the hooks 23which suspend the rods 21 between the ends thereof.

From the preceding description taken in connection with the drawings, itwill be evident that I have provided a yielding shock absorbingsupporting means for the entire meat rack of a refrigerator car, therebyavoiding sudden jars to the rack structure due to vibrations of thetruck springs and car body, thus preventing the meat suspended on thehooks of the rack from being torn and shaken down. In addition, byemploying the friction shock absorbing devices, excessive jars to themeat rack are effectively absorbed, the yielding resistance of thesprings of the shock absorbing devices being dampened by the frictionmeans which also provides greater shock absorbing capacity in case ofheavy shocks being encountered.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination with connectedbars forming a'gridlike rack structure for suspending meat supportingheels; of shock absorbing means for suspending said connected bars.

2. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination with connectedbars forming a gridlike rack structure for suspending meat supportinghooks; of spring shock absorbing means for suspending said connectedbars.

3. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination with connectedbars forming gridlike rack structure for suspending meat supportinghooks; of friction shock absorbing means for suspending said connectedbars.

4. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination with connectedbars forming a grid structure adapted to receive meat supporting hooks;of shock absorbing means fixed to the walls of the car supportingopposite sides of the grid structure; and additional shock absorbingmeans anchored to the grid structure inwardly of the sides thereof forsuspending said gridrstructure from the top of the car.

5. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination withlongitudinally extending bars and transverse connecting rods forming agrid structure adapted to suspend meat hooks; of bracket means fixed tothe walls of the car; means on which the opposite sides of said gridstructure is supported; and shock absorbing means interposed betweensaid brackets and the corresponding supporting means.

6. In a meat rack for refrigerator cars, the combination withlongitudinally extending bars and transverse connecting rods formingacgrid structure adapted to suspend meat hooks; of bracketv means fixedto the walls of the car; means on which the opposite sides of said gridstructure is supported; shock absorbing means interposed between saidbrackets and the corresponding supporting means; members suspending thegrid structure inwardly of the ends thereof, said members having shankportions; fixed follower means at the upper end of each shank portion;fixed supporting means on the car; and shock absorbing means interposedbetween said fixed supporting meansand each follower.

.7. In a refrigerator car structure, the com- .bination withxa pluralityof fixed interior beams at the top of the car extending transthrough thebars andsupporting the latter; a plurality of casings supported on saidbeams; a plurality of supporting elements fixed to the grid structurefor suspendinglthe same; a follower anchored to the upper .end of eachsupporting element and slidable within one of said casings; and meansyieldingly opposing movement of said followers with respect to thecorresponding casings.

8. In a refrigerator car structure, the combination with aplurality offixed :beams at the top of the car extending transversely thereof andspaced lengthwise; of a grid member com-posed of' a plurality of spaced,longitudinally extending bars and transverse rods extending through' thebars and supporting the latter; a plurality of casings supported on saidbeams; a friction cylinder telescopically slidable within each casing;friction 'means'lnoluding' a wedge member cooperating with eachcylinder; spring means opposing relative movement of each casing andcylinder and also opposing relative'movement of the friction means andcorresponding cylinder; and means anchored at opposite ends to eachwedge member and rod respectively for suspendmg said grid structure.

9. In a refrigerator car structure,-the coming the latter; ,a plurality10f casings supported von said beams; vajfrictioncylinder telescopicallyslidable within each casing; :fri'ction means including wedge member 00-operating with each cylinder; spring means opposing-relative movement ofeach casing and cylinderand also-.opposingrelative movement of .thefriction :means :and corresponding cylinder; means anchored at :oppositeends .to each "wedge 'and mod respeci 11. Ina shock absorbing-supportingmeans for meat racks of refrigerator cars, the combination witha'friction casing fixed to the car structure; of friction shoes:slidable within the casing; spring means resisting inward movement .oftheshoes; and .a wedge block cooperating with the shoes, said wedgeblock having means thereon for supporting the rack structure.

12. Ina shock absorbing supporting means for meat racks of refrigeratorcars, the combination with a casing fixedto the car; of a friction shelltelescopically slidable within the casing; frictionshoes slidable withinthe shell; spring resistance means opposing relative movement of :theshell and casing and also opposing relative movement of the shoes andshell; wedge means cooperating with the shoes; and means for suspendingthe meat rack by said wedgemeans.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 29th day of May, 1931. V

ARNOLD E. DEN TLEZR.

spect to the corresponding-casing; a plural-' ity of casings fixed tothe side walls of the car; a supporting member sliclable in each casing,said supporting member having a socket at the top thereof in which theouter end of one of said rods is seated; and spring means opposingmovement of said supporting member inwardly of the casing.

10. In a refrigerator car structure, the combination with a plurality offixedbeams at the' top of the car extending transversely thereofandspaced lengthwise; of a grid member composed of a plurality ofspaced, longitudinally extending bars and transverse rods extendingthrough the bars and supportinc

